James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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Friday, June 5, 2009

My son Dan plays Irish accordion. Which is funny, because Jeanette and I aren’t Irish, and we’re not musicians either.

Dan figured out how to play the squeezebox on his own, starting when we gave him a toy accordion at age four. He played it and played it until it broke. He listened over and over to a CD called “The Big Squeeze” while reading Hardy Boys books.

So we did what every sensible parent should do…we kept him up late in pubs.

At age seven he got to meet some Irish squeezebox heroes—Father Charlie Coen, Billy McComiskey, and John Whelan. They became musical mentors and set him on the right path. He bought a real accordion with his lawn mowing money. I did this life portrait of him when he was 11. Since then he won the North American Irish accordion championship six times.

Now he’s twice that age, 22 years old. Yesterday he graduated from Harvard College with a concentration in music.

The commencement ceremony was full of pomp and pageantry. It was funny to see all the alumni, with their bow ties and panama hats.

What’s next for Dan? Well, he collects accordion jokes. One of his favorites is: “What’s the definition of an optimist?” “An accordion player with a business card.”

This summer he will travel throughout Europe as a writer-reporter for the Let’s Go travel guide book company. He did this the previous two summers in Thailand and Greece.

For the remainder of 2009-2010 he’ll be on a fellowship in Ireland, where he’ll learn more about the music tradition from the legendary players there. He is grateful to the Shaw and Payne Foundations for providing the fellowship opportunities.

22 comments:

Wonderful! When the topic of music in the studio came up a while back, I could have mentioned that John Whelan and Seamus Egan (Solas) are constants. Now I've bookmarked Dan's sites. Thanks for sharing this look into the life of your family. Dan has a bright future rolling out before him.

I had an Uncle who played the accordian. He lugged through Europe and to the Philipines as a soldier in WWII and I still have it. Benny's flop house band was apparently popular with the troops. I never got the music gene and musicians are like magicians to me! Best wishes to Dan!

Congratulations to Dan!Well, the fact he didn't go for drawing but for music kind of proves that it's not the talent you inherit but the creative drive and it will seed and grow in which ever way it wants to.

As a proud parent myself, I smiled with deep understanding as I read your post. Thanks so much for sharing. Congratulations to Dan and to you all! As a friend of mine once remarked, every stage of our kids' lives are equally wonderful - whether it's the first step of the toddler, or the first step with the college degree in hand.

I'm sure that Dan's as proud of you and his Mom as you both are of him.

Congratulations to your son! I am enjoying that wonderful music of his on Myspace now.

I still have an old, worn and battered copy of Let's Go Europe that has been my faithful companion on several trips around this chunk of land. If he needs a few tips about Denmark, just let me know ;-)

I checked out his website, he is REALLY good! Congratulations to him! It's inspiring and touching to see how you encouraged him to do what he loved. You are a good dad! And your drawings have captured the past and memories that mean so much.

that's the best blog entry ever. you are an awesome dad. also thanks for sharing all of your knowledge. reading your blog is like going back to art school without all the money, and walking. so thanks again!

What a tender and proud moment for you and your whole family! Thankyou for sharing this short tribute as I sense we will be hearing much more from your gifted son who will lighten the weary traveler with a tune . I will check out his MySpace. Does he do a rendition of "Purple Haze" accordian style?

As I remember , you have 2 of the best behaved boys I have seen in a long time! Blessings to you and yours Jim...May God protect him as he travels overseas....